Top 5 Roger Corman movies

by Bill Goodykoontz - Apr. 30, 2011 08:58 PMThe Arizona Republic

Roger Corman is most often - and correctly - thought of as the king of the B movies, churning out profit-turning schlock that has a lot of heart. Some of his films, however, are something more. Here are five worth seeking out on their own terms.

The Little Shop of Horrors" (1960):Seymour Krelb (Jonathan Haze) has a plant that is more carnivorous than most; he has to kill to feed it. It's most famous for its inclusion of a young Jack Nicholson as a masochist.

"Death Race 2000" (1975):The definition of a cult film. David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone star as gladiatorlike drivers competing in a cross-country race in which you get points not only for speed, but for running over pedestrians.

"The Intruder" (1962): A rarity for Corman - it reportedly is his only film that didn't make a profit; it's also one of the few that got a warm critical reception. William Shatner stars as a racist who shows up in a small Southern town to stir up trouble.

"The Wild Angels" (1966): Peter Fonda, Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd and Nancy Sinatra star in Corman's take on the Hells Angels. Think sex, drugs and motorcycles and you'll have the idea.

"Masque of the Red Death" (1964): Corman made several films based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe; this is widely considered the best. Vincent Price plays Prince Prospero, who has a unique way of defending himself against the plague.